Friday, October 17, 2008

Keep Your Eyes Ahead

Let's talk About Goals, Baby:
  • A Goal: Qualify for Boston Marathon with time of 3:45:59 or better.
  • B Goal: 4:00 or better.
  • C Goal: 4:15 or better.
  • D Goal, as in Massive Ankle/Fibula Implosion: Just Finish. Crawl If Need Be.
Ankle-Fibula Update: After an entire week of RICE, Redneck Style (I did upgrade from the dish rag to an Ace bandage provided by my co-worker so instead of a trashy gimp I looked like a more professional gimp) and a drastically reduced running schedule, I am happy to report that the problem seems to be nearly resolved. Pain while walking is nonexistent and pain while running is very slight and disappears as I warm up. After weeks of pain and worry this is a welcome feeling indeed.

Mental Health Report: I'm freaking out. Yeah. Like, totally. My helpful friend said, "
They should totally invent some sort of 'chill pill' that people could take a couple of days before a big event. Oh, wait, it's called Xanax... anyway, probably not a good time to be all hepped out on Xanax."

Sadly, I think you're right, E. I'm going to have enough trouble managing the adrenaline rush.

Nutrition Report: I have been hitting the carbs pretty hard this week and wonder of wonders I have not had any alcohol since Tuesday night when I went out with a bang by ingesting a Nutty Martini (vodka plus Frangelico) and then a Stone Brewing Co. IPA and an Erie Brewing Co. Misery Bay IPA. It's been teetotaler town since then. And lest ye think I'm forswearing my Booze Hounds Inc. credentials, I have been looking longingly at John's dinnertime beers all week. One of the first things I have on my list of things to do after the race (aside from "collapse in a heap") is to have myself a big frosty one at the party headquarters for all of the RF501 people.

Random Thoughts: Nerves aside, I'm so ready for this. I'm in fantastic shape. I'm healthy. I've been training for months. My confidence is high. I can't wait. I can't wait to stand shivering at the starting line with 4,999 of my closest friends come Sunday morning as we all embark on our personal journeys.

I checked with the Free Press web site's list of registered marathon participants and my name was on the list. I had this fear that I was going to arrive at packet pick-up tomorrow only to be told they had no record of my registration.

My biggest dilemma: which headband am I going to wear? I have to make a STATEMENT, people! I need to select one that will scream "Here I come!" to any folks who might be keeping an eye out for me. Right now I'm thinking the black one with the really big white and pink polka dots or maybe one of the brightly-striped ones (the one I'm wearing in the picture might do the trick). I'll be wearing my official RF501 shirt and some variety of shorts, probably my blue Asics ones because they're the most comfortable and least prone to binding and chafing.

Motivation: The Helio Sequence, "Keep Your Eyes Ahead." I've been listening to this on a nearly endless loop at work all day today.

Keep your eyes on right
Keep your eyes on right ahead

Keep your rudders right
Keep your rudders right ahead



LET'S GO!

13 comments:

muh said...

glad your leg is getting better.
we'll all be routing for you Sunday. Good luck!

Fritz said...

Good luck! I'll be watching for you!

Nitmos said...

Well this is certainly a much better tone. You are ready to roll. Run hard. And have fun! And if you see someone who looks like me walking along the road late in the race, go ahead and shoot me.

Wendy said...

Good luck, girl!! I hope you run the whole thing injury free! :)

Anonymous said...

Good luck this weekend! You're going to totally rock it. I have to admit, I'm a teansy bit jealous. I'm registered for the half, but hurt my knee and haven't been able to fully recover. And a close friend of mine is registered for the full and strained her hip flexor so she won't be running either. Run for us!

tfh said...

Ooh, I like polka dots.

You're going to be fantastic. The training is there; the hard work is over. You're reaping now. (And I don't mean that in a grim sense.) Enjoy it.

(I like giving advice because I've never run a marathon and thus can be enormously, ridiculously cheerful and cheesy about what it takes to run one. But seriously. I've seen your distances. I've seen your times. You're gonna rock this. HAVE FUN.)

BeachRunner said...

Glad you are feeling strong. You are ready to rock this thing. I second everything TFH and everyone else has already said to you. Good luck and HAVE FUN!!

Maggs said...

Good luck! Glad to know I'm not the only one who fears they forgot to register or something got screwed up and I did all the training for nothing!

Angela said...

You have no idea who I am (name is Angela) but I've been reading and enjoying your blog for the last six weeks since I decided to run the Detroit half-marathon. If I'm lucky enough to find you amongst the 18,000 other runners I'd be thrilled to congratulate you on whatever your time is. I'm sure you'll do great! I am where you were a year ago and it gives me such inspiration to think I could be where you are with a lot of hard work in a year. I am a first time half-marathoner hoping to finish in the 2:07 range.

chia said...

I like the optimism ;-)... and Gizmo says thanks for the chat earlier (ha ha).

It's going to be a chilly start but should be fruitful ;-)!! Go for it sista - A Goal here you come!

Anonymous said...

Great song. You are ready and are going to rock the race. Glad the leg is feeling good. Can't wait to hear all about it.

Unknown said...

Sunday is a celebration of all your hard work. Enjoy it.

Zoomy said...

You are SO ready and gonna show 26.2 who is boss on Sunday! I can't wait to read your race report!

:D